Nap of the Day: Sky Lodge to reign for King at Haydock

Tuesday is one of the quieter days of racing action in recent days, with just three meetings in Britain as Irish action takes a pause following the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.

There are National Hunt meetings from Haydock and Taunton in the afternoon, while a nine-race all-weather card from Wolverhampton takes over in the evening. Tuesday's Nap of the Day will bid to give Alan King a welcome winner and boasts course form as he heads for Haydock on his second outing over fences.

It has been a frustrating festive run for Alan King, the Barbury Castle handler now without a winner since the middle of the month.

King sent four runners out on Boxing Day at Wincanton, Kempton and Wolverhampton and returned with two runners-up.

His charges are still running well, but a winner would be welcome as he runs another couple of his charges between now and New Year's Day.

SKI LODGE is his only runner on the card at Haydock where he lines up in the Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Novices' Handicap Chase over 3m1½f, as Tom Bellamy rides in the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate silks.

The six-year-old won his bumper on heavy going at Chepstow in early 2024 and broke his duck over timber at this track on an extended three miles on soft ground 12 months ago on his second attempt at jumping.

He didn't run again for 349 days and was second in a Lingfield handicap hurdle (2m3½f, good to soft) last month on his return off a mark of 115, with two of the four horses that finished behind him obliging next time out.

Ski Lodge, meanwhile, went to Uttoxeter for his first crack over fences and was second behind the David Pipe-trained Itseemslikeit, back from a wind operation and impressing on his own chasing debut.

Ski Lodge had today's rival Sole Solution a length-and-a-quarter behind in third spot that afternoon and is actually 1lb better off on these revised terms.

This Getawood gelding looks the sort to improve over fences and his course form at Haydock is a positive in his corner, as is the increased trip.

He can uphold form with his Uttoxeter adversary and account for Newcastle winner Paddy O'Mahler to register a first win over fences at the second attempt, replicating what he did over the smaller obstacles.

She's held by Mullins' Fun Fun Fun, a mare I've always thought plenty of, on their meeting at this level at Perth back in April. She enjoyed a spin over hurdles at Punchestown last month that ought to have put her spot on for this. She is as much of a threat, if not more of one in my book.

Telepathique isn't a no-hoper, but she'd be a surprising winner for me - while Mini Mildred is just making up the numbers. Respectfully.

If she's travelled over well and is 100%, I struggle to see Spindleberry beat. She's a proper contender for March, too.

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